Welding electrode holder



Nov. 9, 1948.

E. w. HUEBNER WELDING ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed July 26, 194e T Q 4L IN VENTOR.

Patented Nov. 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING ELECTRODEHOLDER Ernest W. Huebner, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Weiger Weed &Company, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,2.63

9 Claims. l.

This invention relates to improvements in welding electrode holders andmore particularly to a water cooled holder having a removable electrodetip.

In welding electrode holders, it is important to provide a coolingsystem for both the holder and the electrode tip. The tips are usuallyreplaceable and it is desirable to provide knockout means for removingthe tip. In the form of the invention herein illustrated, the knockoutmeans has been shown in conjunction with the cooling system and itbecomes necessary to provide accurate sealing means between therelatively movable parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sealingmeans between a reciprocating, knockout member and the cooling systemwhereby a cooling medium is confined within the device for cooling theholder and the removable tip.

Another object of the invention is to provide resilient means formaintaining the knockout means in a predetermined normal position.

A further object of the invention is to provide supporting guides at theopposite sides of the sealing member for stabilizing the axially movableknockout member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid sealbetween relatively movable parts which forms a dividing wall betweeninlet and outlet/fluid passages.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a welding electrode tipholder illustrating a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the fluid sealing means shown inFig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tubular body member I havinga bore l2 extending therethrough and an inwardly tapered recess I4 atone end thereof with the outer end of the tapered recess I4 having alarger diameter than the bore I2. The opposite end of the bore I2 lscounterbored at I6 providing a shoulder I8. The outer periphery of thecounterbored end of the body I0 is of reduced diameter and has externalscrew threads 20. The reduced diameter provides a shoulder 22.

Screw threaded on the threads 25 is a head 244 cating with an inletchamber 32.l A chamber 34.v

is provided between the internal threads and the shoulder 28. The outerend of the head is Provided with a bore 36 axially aligned with the bore30. A channel groove 38 is formed in the inner periphery of the bore 3Bfor the reception of the improved fluid sealing member hereinafter morefully described.

Radially extending passages 4G and 42 are formed in the wall of the head24 at the opposite sides of the bore 30 leading into the chambers 32 and34, respectively. The passages v 40 and 42 are screw threaded to receivehose connector fittings 44 and 4G, respectively. Fitting 44 is adaptedto be connected to a fluid supply line and tting 4B, to a fluid exhaustconduit,

not shown. Y

A knockout plunger in the form of a tubular rod 48, having an annularflange 50 at its inner end, is received in the bores 3U and 36 for axialrelative movement therein with the ange 50 normally abutting theshoulder 28. 'Ihe rod 4I!` has a radially extending aperture 52therethrough which is intersected by an axially extending bore 54through the inner end of the rod 48. The bore 54 is counterbcred andinternally threaded as at 56.

A tubular member 58 is screw threaded into the counterbcred portion ofthe bore 54 and loosely extends through the bore l2 of the housing I0 toa point adjacent the smaller diameter of the taper I4. Frictionally ttedin the end of the tube 58, adjacent the taper i4 is another tube 60which projects beyond the end of the tube 58. The outer end of the tube60 is beveled ofi to provide a point contact as at, 62 for engagementwith the closed end 64 of a bore 66 in a removable tip 68.

The tip 68 has a closed end portion 10 and a tubular portion 1I. Theouter periphery of the tubular portion is tapered to correspond with thetapered bore I4 which, when pressed in the bore holds the tip inposition. In replacing the tip,

it is desirable to provide means for pushing the tip outwardly.

The tube 60 is slidingly adjustable within the tube 58 to accommodatevariable lengths of tips. In longer tips, the bore 56 is of greaterlength and since it is important to have the end 62 at the end oi thebore, this adjustment is provided. In assembly, the tube 6U is pulled.out-

wardly and when the tip is inserted, the tube 6U' is pushed upwardly inthe tube 58 by end contact with the closed end $4. An annular, in Wardlyextending rib S9 is formed in the wall of the tube 58 for limiting theinward movement of the tube 60.

The improved means for knocking out the tip 68 operates in conjunctionwith the fluid cooling system and the tubular rod 48. In the formillus-- trated, a tubular member l2, having an enlarged portion forminga shoulder 'I4 at its upper end spaced axially from the shoulder i3. Theen l'arged portion is provided with radially eXtending apertures 16communicating with the interior of the tubular member 'l2 and the outletchamber 34.

A compression spring 18 surrounds the tube lil and has its opposite endsin abutting relation with the shoulders 'I4 and I3 respectively. Thisspring urges the tube 72 axially with the end face of the enlargedshoulder portion in Contact with the lower face of the flange U, forminga uid seal between the two fluid chambers 32 and 34. The lower end ofthe tube lll is spaced from the upper end of the tip 63. It is to benoted that the spring '18, not only urges the tube l2-l into sealingposition with the rod 48 but it also urges the rod upwardly andoutwardly of the head 2`4 with the ange 50 forming a seal between theflange 50 and the shoulder 28.

Arranged in the channel groove itl is the sealing member more cl-earlyillustrated in Fig. 4l. The sealing member comprises an annular ring ofresilient material 80 which has an integral central rib 82 extendingradially inwardly from the ring portion 80. At the opposite sides of therib 8:2 are two liber washers 84 and 86. These washers loosely t theradial space between the ring and substantially fill the longitudinalspace between the lateral edges of the rib 82 and the walls of thechannel 38. The ber washers Elli are radially split as at 88 to permitradial expansion of the washers.

vIn the form illustrated, the cooling fluid enters the aperture 52 underpressure and ilows through the tubes 58 and 60 into the hollow tip lill.The return flow is through tube l2, apertures "i8 and discharge fitting46. Any fluid pressure tending to pass between the walls of opening andthe rod 48 would cause a compression of the `rib 82 and the lowerportion of the ring till. This axial compression also causes a radialexpansion of the upper portion of the ring El@ which causes a radialreduction in diameter of the two upper fiber washers 86 urging thewashers and rib 82 into intimate sealing `relation, with the rod 133.Fig. 4illust1'ates the sealing member in its positionv when a uidpressure is applied. A packing ring 9D is shownbetween the connection ofthe head 24 and body lll.

The rod 48 is guided in its axial movement by the Wall of the bore 36 atopposite sides of the sealing means and is also guided by the wall ofthe bore 30.

When it is desired to replace the tip le, the outer end of the rod 48 isstruck with a tool such as a hammer and the lower end of the tube "l2strikes the upper end of the tubular portion ll of vthe tip 68, forcingit out of the taper it. This action compresses the spring 7S and afterthe blow, the spring returns the tube 'l and rod il to the normalposition awa-y from any interierw ence with a new tip to be inserted andinto fluid sealing position. By maintaining the fluid seals in sealingposition, such as by the seal around aov l the rod 43 in engagement witha definite location on the rod, there is an even wear and the sealbecomes adjusted to the rod for more accurate sealing.

The flange 59, seating against the shoulder t3 forms a duid seal betweenthe :inletl and outlet passages to prevent ley-passing of any huid fromthe inlet passage to the outlet passage without nrst being conducted tothe tip F58. in addition to the spring; "itl, urging the flange intosealing position, the fluid pressure, acting upon the inner end of therod dit, urges the flange to sealing position.

While one embodiment oi the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be under ystood that vario-us changes including thesize,

shape and arrangement oi parte he made without departing from the spiritof my invention as it is not my intention to iiinit its scope other thanby the terms of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A holder for welding electrode tips, comprising a tubular holderhaving a so et at one end for frictionally retaining a tip, a head .menber detachably connected, to the opposite end oi said tubular holder,said head being tubular and having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a rodprojecting through the end oi said head .movable axiallyv 'therein andseparating the inlet port from the outlet port, an outwardly extendingflange on said rod. wit-hin said head for engagement therewith to limitoutward movement of said rod, a tubular member within said tubularholder having one end in contact with the inner end of said rod, saidtube being in fluid communication with the outlet port and open at itsopposite end, a second tubular member within said lirst named tube andspaced from the inner wall thereof, said second named tube being carriedby said rod having a fluid communication through said rod to the fluidinlet passage, resilient means for urging said rst named tube intocontact with said rod for urging the latter outwardly, and fluid sealingmeans between said rod and head.

2. A. holder for welding electrode tips, comu pricing a tubular holderhaving a soclret at one end, a tip irictionally retained in. the socket,a head memb-erdetachably connected to the opn posite end of said tubularholder, a iluid circuu lating system within holder for cooling saidholder and tip including a rod projecting through the outer end of saidhead and a tubular member having one end biased against the inner end ofsaid rod, said rod and said tubular member being adapted to knock outsaid tip upon inward movement of said rod, a resilient ring positionedwithin said head and having a central inwardly exten-zilng ange oflesser thickness said ring, and a pair of radially contractible washersat the opu posite sides of the ilange of said ring forming a sealbetween said rod and said head.

3. A holder for welding electrode tips, comprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end, a. tip frictionally retained in the socket,a head ymember detachably connected to the opu posit-e end of saidtubular holder, a uuid circulating system within said holder for coolingsaid In. older and tip including a rod projecting thro-ugh the outer endof said head and a tubular men ber having one ,end biased against theinner end of said rod, said rod and said tubular member being adapted toknock out said tip upon inward movement oi said rod, said rod havingthree spaced bearing supports, a resilient ring positioned within saidhead and having a central in- 'wardly extending flange of lesserthickness than said ring, and a pair of radially contractible washers atthe opposite sides of the flange csaid ring forming a seal between saidrod and said head.

4. A holder for welding electrode tips, coinprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end, a tip frictionally retained in the socket, ahead member detachably connected to the opposite end of said tubularholder, a fluid circulating system within said holder for cooling saidholder and tip including a rod projecting through the outer end of saidhead and a tubular member having one end biased against the inner end ofsaid rod, said rod and said tubular member being adapted to knock outsaid tip upon inward movement of said rod, an outwardly extending flangeat the inner end of said rod for sealing engagement with said head, andresilient means for urging said flange into sealing engagement with saidhead.

5. A holder for welding electrode tips, comprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end, a tip frictionally retained in the socket, ahead member detachably connected to the opposite end of said tubularholder, a fluid circulating system within said holder including a fluidinlet .passage and a fluid exhaust passage, a rod projecting through theouter end of said head and extending through the inlet passage into theexhaust passage, a resilient ring positioned within said head and havinga central inwardly extending ilange of lesser thickness than said ring,a pair of radially contractible washers at the opposite sides of theange of said ring forming a seal between said rod and said head, andmeans for sealing the rod against fluid pressure between the exhaustpassage and the inlet passage.

6. A holder for welding elec-trode tips, comprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end, a tip frictionally retained in the socket, ahead member detachably connected to the opposite end of said tubularholder, a fluid circulating system Within said holder for cooling saidholder and tip including a rod projecting through the outer end of saidhead and a tubular member, resilient means for biasing one end of thetubular member against the inner end of said rod, said rod and saidtubular member being adapted to knock out said tip upon inward movementof said rod, an outwardly extending flange at the inner end of said rodfor sealing engagement with said head, the inner end of said rod beingexposed to the fluid pressure within said holder whereby the fluidpressure urges said flange into sealing engagement with said head, saidresilient means urging said nange into sealing engagement with saidhead.

'7. A holder for welding electrode tips comprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end, a tip frictionally retained in the socket, ahead member removably attached to the opposite end of said tubularholder, said head having fluid inlet and outlet ports communicating withinternal inlet and outlet chambers, respectively, a

rod projecting through the end of said head movable axially therein, anoutwardly extending ange on the inner end of said rod within the outletchamber adapted to engage the head and separate the two chambers, aresilient ring positioned within said head adjacent the outer end ofsaid head, a central inwardly extending flange on said ring of lesserthickness than said ring, a pair of radially cntractible washers at theopposite sides of the ilange forming a seal between said rod and saidhead, a tubular member within said holder extending from said flange onsaid rod and terminating at a point adjacent the socket and means forurging said tube into contact with said ange on said rod and said flangeon said rod into sealing engagement with said head.

8. A holder for welding electrode tips comprising a tubular holderhaving a socket at one end adapted to receive a welding electrode tip, ahead member removably attached tothe opposite end of said tubularholder, said head having a bore therethrough, a fluid inlet chamberadjacent its outer end, an internal groove between said inlet chamberand the outer end, a fluid outlet chamber adjacent its inner end and aninternal shoulder in said head separating the chambers, a rod positionedin said bore projecting through the end of said head and extending intothe outlet chamber, an outwardly extending flange on the inner end ofsaid rod within the outlet chamber, a tubular member having one endadapted to be biased against the flange on said rod, resilient meansurging said tubular member against the flange on said rod and saidflange on said rod into sealing engagement with said shoulder, aresilient ring positioned within said internal groove, a centralinwardly extending iiange on said ring of lesser thickness than saidring, and a pair of radially contractible washers at the opposite sidesof the flange on said ring forming a seal between said rod and saidhead.

9. In a holder for welding electrode tips including a tubular holder, ahead member removably attached to one end of the tubular holder and arod projecting through the end of said head, sealing means between saidhead and said rod comprising a resilient ring positioned within andadjacent the outer end of said head, a central inwardly extending flangeon said ring of lesser thickness than said ring and a pair of radiallycontractible washers at opposite sides of the flange on said ring.

ERNEST W. HUEBNER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Seeloff Sept. 18, 1945Number

